The most commonly neglected element of a computer upgrade is the case. Many people upgrade with little thought to the case, using low quality hardware, or keeping their old case. Either of these situations is going to lead to a computer that doesn't run as well as it should.
Problems with old cases
Many older cases are not designed with the airflow needs of modern hardware in mind. Airflow is a very important element in the task of keeping a processor from becoming damaged by heat. In addition, older cases don't have many of the modern comforts of a new case, like front audio and USB jacks. They also usually lack modular hard drive bays and effective cable management.
Problems with cheap cases
Cheap cases have many of the same problems that old ones do. They usually have substandard airflow, and lack modularity and cable management. They usually do have front USB and audio jacks, but in many cases they are poorly built or inoperable right out of the box. Also, cheap cases use cheap materials, and are much easier to damage than a good quality case. In some cases, a very cheap case may also be prone to electrical shorting.
Benefits of a Quality Case
A new high quality case removes all of these problems. With proper airflow, the computer will run cooler, and as a result, more efficiently. Many quality cases will also have e-SATA and Firewire ports on the front panel, in addition to the more traditional USB and audio jacks. A quality case will be considerably more resistant to damage than a cheap one.
Tags: audio jacks, quality case, cable management, cases have, cases have many, cheap cases